"I have always given NO COMMENT interviews to the police, however, since my release from prison I have given comment to everyone from Radio 4 to the Daily Mail about criminal justice issues.

"Everyone has strong opinions on how we should deal with prisons and prisoners but, understandably, most people tend to base their opinions on Hollywood bloodbaths and ITV docudramas. If people actually knew the realities of life behind bars the national discourse on prisons would be very, very different."